I hope everyone had a safe and joyful Fourth of July holiday. It looked as if summer waited until this holiday week to arrive, as we welcomed hot, sunny, and of course humid weather for the start of the week. Along with the delights this brings, we experienced crowded beaches, long checkout lines in stores, and even longer waits in lines of traffic. Why we are surprised that this happens every summer, I do not know, but perhaps we feel entitled to enjoy our Island summers without the crowds and confusion that come with it. Now we must switch our modus operandi to summer, by only trying to get into town during certain hours, and using different routes, unless we want to spend most of our time waiting in traffic.
We extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of John Boardman, who always provided the most interesting information on many subjects through his letters and comments. Also, we are so sad at the passing of Pat Rose, whose strength, love, and faith had led her safely through so many obstacles that would defeat most of us. Our sympathies to both of these families.
Big thank-you to the Oak Bluffs Highway Department for their response to my request to paint the stop lines at the four-way stops along Alpine Avenue. So now all of the people who seem to think the street is one long raceway will have two reminders to nudge them that the stop signs and lines actually mean stop. Our street is very narrow, and so many children, dogs, cats, and old slow-moving people like me are in danger of being hit by the racers.
One of the most popular offerings for Oak Bluffs youth is the Niantic Park basketball camp programs. You can sign up at the Park Recreation Building at the park. The schedule: ages 6 to 9, 9 am to noon Monday through Saturday (Court 2), Ages 10 to 13, 9 am to noon Monday through Saturday (Court 1); Session 1: June 26 to July 12, Session 2: July 13 to July 29, Session 3: July 31 to August 16.
And if sports is not your thing, here are some of the great programs offered by our Oak Bluffs library for adults and children. On July 11, the Yard is presenting “Camille A. Brown and Dancers Round Table” at 6 pm. The dancers soar through history using the theatricality and the aesthetics of modern, hip-hop, african, ballet, and tap. Wednesday, July 23, at 6 pm, NYC standup comics Steven Markow and Catherine Cohen will lead an introductory standup workshop, followed by a revue by the students, as well as Markow and Cohen, the following night at 6 pm.
Storytime with Island Grown Schools for ages 3-plus is held at 11 am on Tuesdays, July 11 through August 8. There will be stories, crafts, cooking, and taste-testing activities.
Family Board Games start at 6 pm on Tuesdays, starting July 11 and running through August 29. Teen Construction Challenge program takes place on Wednesdays through August 20. Each week teens will be given a brown paper bag full of materials needed to build a construction challenge.
Something new this year is the free lunch starting at noon, Tuesdays through Fridays until August 11. Island Grown Schools summer food service program will be at the Oak Bluffs library, serving lunch for all children ages up to 18.
File these two notices under coming attractions. Did you know that MVCS and the Rotary Club
of Martha’s Vineyard have been working in collaboration since 2015, raising a total of $110,000
in support of MVCS and numerous Island charities supported by the Rotary
Club? Well, one of their biggest fundraising events is their annual Vineyard Charity Golf Classic
in September, at the Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown. There are only a handful of spots
remaining, so interested parties should register as a sponsor as soon as possible to secure their foursome. For more info, you may call Jessica Rogers at 508-693-7900.
The Art Buchwald Possible Dreams Auction, which benefits Martha’s Vineyard Community Services (MVCS) and its six core programs, celebrates its 39th anniversary this year on Sunday, July 30, at the Winnetu Oceanside Resort in Katama. This year you will be able to bid on “Live Dreams” from afar if you are not able to be present the day of the auction.The auction committee is still looking for crew members to help out as event-day volunteers. Visit mvcommunityservices.com/possibledreams to fill out a volunteer sign-up form. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at mvcommunityservices.com/possibledreams or the day of the event.
We send birthday smiles to Woodside Village residents who are celebrating July birthdays this month: They are Albert Hutchinson, Russell Marsden, Barbara Nolan, Douglas Searle, Jon Moore, Edwin Lapiene, Myrna Araujo, Betsy Tierney, Robert Shelton, Raphael Shai, Howard Harrison, Nels Sjostrom, Merianne Sharpe, and William Merry. Smiles to Erin Pavchico and Karen Torrence on July 7, Nicholas Mathias on the 8th, Hope deBettencourt, Fronzie Conlin, and Josh Correllus on July 10, Colleen Farrissey on the 11th, and Lauren Weaver and Jeff LaBell on July 13.
Enjoy your week. Peace.
